[MLS SCHEDULE: Week 21] Real Salt Lake has a four-point edge in the race for the
Supporters' Shield, but it will be short-handed for its a battle of conference leaders against Sporting Kansas City Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium. Third-string keeper Jeff Attinella will get the start in goal with No. 1 keeper Nick Rimando one of four starters away on Gold Cup duty and backup Josh Saunders sidelined with a knee injury suffered a week ago.

Attinella was named to the 2012 NASL Best XI after leading the Tampa Bay Rowdies to the
NASL title. He was signed by RSL in the offseason but returned on loan to the Rowdies earlier this season.

He will have to play behind a backline that has been hit hard by injuries and
ailments. The latest: 19-year-old Mexican Carlos Salcedo had surgery on Sunday to have his gall bladder removed -- 15 hours after playing in the 3-0 win over FC
Dallas. Out with injuries are center backs Chris Schuler and Kwame Watson-Siriboe.

Besides Rimando, other
RSL players still at the Gold Cup are Tony Beltran and Kyle Beckerman for the USA and Alvaro Saborio for Costa Rica.

Sporting Kansas City lost one national team starter, Matt Besler, for up to the next two weekends when
Jurgen Klinsmann used his option to add four new players for the knockout stage of the Gold Cup, but another, Graham
Zusi,was not called up from the 35-player shortlist.